So you're on holiday in Lisbon and you fancy a day trip to the beach, but you're not sure which beach to head to.

The overwhelming choice of beaches can be confusing, especially when every guide recommends different locations, and many are a long distance from the city.

The quick answer for "the best beaches close to Lisbon" are the Praia de Santo Amaro, the Praia de Carcavelos or the Costa da Caparica (south of Lisbon). If you want to visit a charming town with beaches, then Cascais is the best choice.

There are beaches much closer, but these are not as good due to poor beach quality, questionable water cleanliness (being within the Tejo estuary) or lack of facilities. This guide will detail which beach to head to for your beach day trip and includes a map and travel details.
Related articles: Lisbon beach guide – Cascais guide

The glorious beach at Carcavelos

The closest beach is the Praia de Algés, just 1.5km from the Torre de Belém and 9km from central Lisbon (as measured from Rossio plaza). It is sandy and a suitable location to relax on, but it lies within the questionable waters of the Tejo estuary and there are much better options further westwards.

The Praia de Algés is sandy but below the water line the sand is contaminated from the Tejo and the ships that enter the docks or cruise terminal

The Praia do Dafundo sits close to the Praia de Algés and is the second closest beach to Lisbon, but has all the same issues as Algés beach. This is essentially an urban beach with questionable water quality, and the layers of sand below the surface can contain fuel and waste from the nearby docks. If this is your first beach day trip in the Lisbon region, definitely avoid both Dafundo and Algés beaches.

The Praia do Dafundo, images make it seem much better than it actually is…

Heading westwards, the first sensible beach option is Praia de Caxias, just 13km from central Lisbon. This beach boasts clean golden sands and offers a much more scenic location, but it still lies within the Tejo estuary mixing zone. Caxias is a much better choice than Algés and Dafundo, and works well if you want to minimise travel time or only have a brief window for a beach visit.

Even better is the Praia de Santo Amaro, located 17km from central Lisbon. This is the first genuinely good option from Lisbon, boasting a large sandy shoreline, lots of beach facilities and improved cleanliness of sea water.

The issue is that as it's the closest proper beach to Lisbon, it will always be one of the most crowded. Santo Amaro typically attracts a younger crowd, and the McDonald's positioned behind the beach indicates its primary demographic – mostly college-aged visitors and social groups looking for convenience rather than tranquillity. This is a good choice outside of school holidays or weekends.

The Praia do Dafundo, images make it seem much better than it actually is…

But expect Santo Amaro to be busy at the weekends and summer holidays…

The best choice for a beach close to Lisbon is the Praia de Carcavelos, only slightly further along at 19km from Lisbon. This is a vast sandy beach with clean Atlantic seawaters and a wide variety of amenities including cafés, showers, shops and restaurants. The beach attracts a range of visitors, with young families, tourists and couples all enjoying the wonderful setting.

In our opinion, the Praia de Carcavelos is the best beach if you want a beach trip and are based within Lisbon. Carcavelos beach is relatively easy to travel to, being served by the Lisbon-Cascais railway that departs from Cais do Sodré train station. A more convenient means of travel is to hire an Uber or Bolt, and a fare will typically be around 20€ from central Lisbon to Carcavelos.

Praia de Carcavelos at peak season, it will be busy but there will be space towards the São Julião da Barra fort

Further along the western coastline is Cascais, a pretty town that offers many sandy beaches and a charming 19th-century centre. Cascais is a great destination if you wish to combine beaches and sightseeing in a single trip. The train journey from Lisbon takes around 40 minutes, making it easily accessible for a full day out.

The pretty Praia da Ribeira overlooks the harbour of Cascais

To the south of Lisbon is the Costa da Caparica coastline, with its vast sandy beaches and powerful Atlantic waves, which are ideal for surfing. The main town of the region is also named Costa da Caparica and can make a fantastic alternative to the beaches to the west of Lisbon.

Costa da Caparica is only 20km from central Lisbon but feels much further away as there is limited public transport and any Uber/Bolt or drive needs to cross the busy Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge.

The Praia do Tarquínio-Paraíso is the main beach of Costa da Caparica town, but there are a further 15km of golden sands.

Costa da Caparica is famed for it’s surfing

The main draw of Costa da Caparica is the deserted beaches and trendy beach bars that lie on either side of the town. Some of the best beach bars/clubs include Leblon, Irmão and Princesa. To reach these, you will either need a car or be willing to spend more for an Uber – also, demand for Ubers can be extremely high at the end of the day when everyone wants to return from the beach.

Irmão beach club, 4km south of Costa da Caparica town

The map below shows the best beaches of the Lisbon region, all of which are easily accessible by public transport.

Legend: 1) Praia de Algés 2) Praia do Dafundo 3) Praia de Caxias 4) Praia Velha 5) Praia de Paço de Arcos 6) Praia de Santo Amaro 7) Praia da Torre 8) Praia de Carcavelos 9) Costa da Caparica 10) Praia de São Pedro do Estoril 11) Praia do Tamariz 12) Praia da Duquesa 13) Praia da Rainha 14) Cascais

The Praia de Carcavelos is simply the best beach close to Lisbon, and for the majority of visitors this should be your default choice for a beach day. It strikes the perfect balance between accessibility, facilities, and genuine Atlantic beach quality.

Located at the mouth of the Tejo estuary, Carcavelos boasts a massive 1.4km shoreline of soft golden sand, and there's genuinely space for everyone, even during peak summer. The beach faces south-west into the Atlantic, creating proper waves that are ideal for beginners surfing and bodyboarding, whilst still being manageable for swimming and general beach activities. Crucially, the water here is clean Atlantic seawater, as the beach sits outside the Tejo estuary mixing zone.

Carcavelos all the amenities you'd expect from a modern beach resort, and the beach promenade lined with cafes, restaurants and beach shops.

The combination of excellent transport links, beautiful sands, clean water, and comprehensive amenities means Carcavelos is ideal for most visitors. It's popular for good reason, but the sheer size of the beach means it rarely feels uncomfortably crowded. For most visitors planning a single beach day from Lisbon, there's genuinely no need to look elsewhere.

Getting to Carcavelos from Lisbon is straightforward and affordable. The easiest option is the suburban train from Cais do Sodré station, which runs directly to Carcavelos station every 20 minutes throughout the day. The journey takes around 25 minutes and costs €2.15 for a single ticket (plus €0.50 for the initial Navegante transport card purchase). From Carcavelos station, it's a pleasant 5-minute walk downhill to the beach.

Alternatively, an Uber or Bolt from central Lisbon typically costs 15-20€ and takes 20-30 minutes depending on traffic, with the advantage of dropping you directly at the beach entrance. If you're driving, there's paid parking available near the beach, though spaces can fill up quickly during summer weekends.

The Praia de Santo Amaro is the closest genuinely good beach to Lisbon, and outside of peak times it's an excellent alternative to the more famous Carcavelos. The beach may be smaller than Carcavelos, but it boasts the same quality golden sands and excellent facilities (beach showers, toilets, shops and cafes)

Santo Amaro's south-easterly orientation makes it more sheltered from both winds and waves, which is a real advantage on blustery days when the western beaches can feel uncomfortably windy. This protection also creates calmer waters, making it more suitable for families with young children or less confident swimmers.

The beach has developed a reputation as Lisbon's youthful hangout, attracting college students and 20 year olds who come for beach football, volleyball, and a generally lively social scene. The gleaming McDonald's restaurant perched behind the beach says everything about its primary demographic. While families and couples certainly use the beach, expect a soundtrack of music, laughter, and high-energy beach activities. If the beach seems to hectic for you head to the calmer easter side.

This youthful vibe can be either a selling point or a deterrent depending on what you're after. If you want a buzzing, social beach experience, Santo Amaro delivers. If you prefer tranquillity, visit on weekdays outside of summer holidays (Monday-Friday, May to mid-July and September) when the energy calms down and the beach rivals Carcavelos for overall quality.

On a quiet day, Santo Amaro is an amazing choice of beach

The Praia de Caxias is often overlooked in favour of Santo Amaro or Carcavelos, but it's actually a solid choice for sunbathing. Located just 13km from central Lisbon (or only 5km from Belém), it boasts clean golden sands and a more relaxed atmosphere than the busier beaches further west - if you visit on weekdays or outside peak season

The main drawback is that the waters lie within the mixing zone of the Tejo estuary and Atlantic, so whilst the beach itself is perfect for sunbathing, swimming isn't recommended.

During weekdays and off-season, Caxias offers the ideal combination of convenience and space – you get a proper beach experience without the tourist crowds, plus the shortest train journey and cheapest Uber fare of all the decent options. However, weekends and summer holidays are a different story, as locals flock here precisely because it's so convenient

At the western side of Caxias beach stands the little Forte da Giribita

The Praia de Algés is the closest beach to Lisbon and is even within walking distance from Belém. It has a 240m long sandy shoreline and faces south-westerly towards the mouth of the Tejo estuary.

This beach's biggest selling point is pure convenience – it's so close to central Lisbon that you can be here within 15 minutes by train from Cais do Sodré or with an inexpensive Uber/Bolt fare of under 10€. If you primarily want to relax on sand after a day of sightseeing (or work!) without the hassle of a long journey, Algés fits the bill perfectly.

The beach itself is fine for sunbathing and has decent facilities, but you'll want to avoid swimming in the waters as this is still within the Tejo estuary mixing zone. Think of it as an urban beach – good for a quick dose of sand and sun, but not the pristine Atlantic beach experience you'll get further west.

Behind the beach you'll find La Siesta, a decent Mexican restaurant, plus easy access to cafés and shops. Algés works well if you're short on time, staying near Belém, or simply want the shortest possible beach trip from Lisbon without worrying about train timetables or expensive taxi fares.

Costa da Caparica offers a completely different beach experience compared to the western beaches, and for many visitors it's actually the superior choice. Located 20km south of Lisbon, this expansive coastline stretches for over 15km of uninterrupted golden sand.

The beach itself faces directly west into the Atlantic, and the waves are consistently powerful, making this a paradise for surfers and bodyboarders. However, families should be cautious with younger children as the surf can be quite strong. Also, the Costa da Caparica coastline has no shelter from the frequent sea breezes – so if it is a windy day in Lisbon, choose elsewhere.

The town of Costa da Caparica itself has a laid-back, local feel that's refreshingly different from the more tourist-focused western beaches. There is no traditional charm like Cascais, but instead you'll find excellent seafood restaurants along the waterfront and a relaxed surfing vibe.

The main drawback is accessibility. Public transport options are limited compared to the western beaches. You will either need to take a long bus ride or ferry followed by a bus, or face the traffic crossing the Ponte 25 de Abril by car or Uber. Expect to pay around 25–30€ for an Uber from central Lisbon, and the journey can take 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic.

The Praia do Dafundo sits just next to Praia de Algés and suffers from all the same problems, but with even fewer redeeming qualities. While it's technically larger than Algés, the beach backs onto an undeveloped gravel area that's occasionally used for music festivals and events, giving it a rather makeshift feel.

Like Algés, the water quality is questionable due to its location within the Tejo estuary, but Dafundo lacks even the basic facilities and nearby restaurants that make Algés at least convenient for a quick beach stop. The shoreline can also accumulate more debris and seaweed, particularly after storms.

The only scenario where you might consider Dafundo is if you're staying very nearby and simply want to sit on sand for half an hour, but even then you'd be better off walking the extra few minutes to Algés. For any proper beach day, skip Dafundo entirely and head to one of the western beaches instead.

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